Character and Appearance

Alysanne was a small woman,[4][5] slim of waist and slight of frame.[6] According to a semi-canon source, she was small of breast, with a long neck, a fair complexion, a high forehead, and high cheekbones.[7] Alysanne was described as "pretty", but seldom as "beautiful" She had blue eyes and honey-colored curls,[6] which according to a semi-canon source, turned white as snow in old age. She wore it in a bun, pulled back and pinned behind her ears.[7] Additionally, age left crow's feet around her eyes and laugh lines about her mouth, although her face never lost its strength.[7] Alysanne became thin and frail after the death of her son Aemon in 92 AC, and began to have difficulty in climbing hills. After she broke her hip in 95 AC, she walked with a cane. Further, as she aged, her hearing began to fail, and she became too unsteady to fly.[5]

Alysanne was bright but unremarkable as a young girl. She was courteous and biddable, and had a sweet smile and a pleasing voice. As a child, she was neither timid nor did she have a willful and stubborn temperament.[4] According to Lord Rogar Baratheon, Alysanne was a proud girl at the age of thirteen.[4] She was considered to be gentle, kind and loving.[4] Alysanne loved her subjects, both highborn and lowborn,[5] and was well loved throughout the Seven Kingdoms in return.[8] She loved her women's courts, where she listened to and learned from the women of the realm. She loved music, dancing, reading, and flying on her dragon.[5] She was a fearless woman.[5] According to a semi-canon source, Alysanne was a fine archer and hunter in her youth, and became renowned for her charities.[7]

Later in life, it was said that Alysanne had learned to read before she had been weaned. According to Septon Barth, she would have been sent to the Citadel, had she been male. She had a great wit, and all the chronicles agree that she made a powerful impression on those who met her.[6] Alysanne was high-spirited, charming and keenly intelligent.[8] Lord Roose Bolton considers Alysanne to have been shrewish.[9]

In 37 AC, following the death of her grandfather, King Aegon I Targaryen, on Dragonstone,[11] her father Aenys ascended the throne.[12] Followers of the Faith of the Seven began an uprising after King Aenys I married Alysanne's two eldest siblings, Rhaena and Aegon, to one another in 41 AC. After Poor Fellows scaled the walls of the Red Keep in an attempt to murder the royal family, Alysanne fled with her family to Dragonstone.[12] By the end of the year most of the realm had joined the side of the Faith, and King Aenys, unable to decide how to deal with the rebels, fell ill. In 42 AC, he collapsed when learning that Rhaena and Aegon were besieged at Crakehall, and died three days later.[12] Alysanne was present on Dragonstone for her father's cremation.[1] Following Aenys's cremation,[12] Dowager Queen Visenya Targaryen brought her son Maegor back from his exile. At Dragonstone, Maegor claimed the Iron Throne for his own, ignoring the claim of Alysanne's eldest brother Aegon. Before he could arrive, however, Alysanne's mother took her and her brothers Viserys and Jaehaerys to Driftmark. Late that year, they traveled to King's Landing for the wedding of King Maegor I to Tyanna of the Tower. Following the wedding, Alysanne, Jaehaerys, and their mother were kept on Dragonstone, prisoners in all but name, by Dowager Queen Visenya, while Alysanne's brother Viserys was kept in King's Landing by Maegor.[1]

Alysanne, Jaehaerys, and Dowager Queen Alyssa escaped Dragonstone in 44 AC, in the chaos following Visenya's death.[13] As the realm slowly began to turn against Maegor, Alysanne's only brother Jaehaerys put forward his claim for the throne, as their elder brothers had both died during the years before; Aegon had been killed in battle by Maegor in 43 AC, Viserys had been tortured to death by Maegor in retaliation for the escape of Alysanne, Jaehaerys and Alyssa from Dragonstone.[13] Alysanne stood beside Jaehaerys as he vowed to end Maegor's reign at Storm's End. Following Maegor's mysterious death in 48 AC, Alysanne, Jaehaerys, and their sister Rhaena flew on their dragons to King's Landing to claim the Iron Throne for Jaehaerys.[1]

Alysanne would serve as a counselor to her brother throughout his reign. She urged him to allow the five surviving knights of Maegor's Kingsguard to join the Night's Watch, instead of executing them. When Jaehaerys allowed it, four of five took the black.[14]

Alysanne was one of many of the royal court who accompanied Jaehaerys to Oldtown in late 48 AC, where she attended his coronation in the Starry Sept.[14] The next year, Alysanne entertained the noble ladies who came to visit King's Landing for the wedding of her mother, Dowager Queen Alyssa Velaryon, to Lord Rogar Baratheon.[6]

Early marriage

Following Dowager Queen Alyssa Velaryon and Lord Rogar Baratheon's Golden Wedding, the small council began to debate about potential spouses for Jaehaerys and Alysanne. Still recalling the uprising of the Faith that had followed the wedding her children Rhaena and Aegon, Alyssa decreed Alysanne and Jaehaerys should not be wed to one another, and after Septon Mattheus agreed that such a marriage would likely again inflame the pious of the realm, the council agreed to find other spouses for the siblings. The council was quick to agree on a husband for Alysanne: Ser Orryn Baratheon.[6]

Alysanne soon learned about the council's decision. According to some, a servant who had been present for the council's discussions had warned her, others claim that it had been her uncle, Lord Daemon Velaryon. Alysanne informed Jaehaerys, who acted immediately, ordering his Kingsguard to discreetly travel to Dragonstone during the night, while he and Alysanne flew together to island upon their dragons. On Dragonstone, Alysanne and Jaehaerys were married in secret, with Septon Oswyck performing the ceremony. As Jaehaerys refused to consummate the marriage, believing Alysanne to still be too young, Alysanne remained a maiden. Lord Rogar and Queen Alyssa arrived on the island soon after the wedding. Upon learning that the marriage had not yet been consummated, Rogar ordered his men to secure the two children, but was defied by the Kingsguard, who formed a wall in front of their king and queen. While Alyssa and Rogar departed, defeated, Alysanne and Jaehaerys remained behind on Dragonstone, where they would spend the rest of the king's minority, spending nearly every hour in each other's company.[6]

Although they had the means to do so, Alysanne and Jaehaerys did not announce their marriage to the realm. Meanwhile, the king's council at King's Landing made no announcement either, but instead began to consider ways to undo the marriage.[6] On the seventh day of the second moon of 50 AC, several ladies-in-waiting departed King's Landing to Dragonstone on the orders of Dowager Queen Alyssa. Although Alyssa sent them under the cover of serving her daughter and be her household, their true purpose was to try and persuade Alysanne to rescind her marriage. Lord Rogar approved his wife's plans, as he wanted eyes and ears on Dragonstone, and saw these women as an opportunity to learn all Jaehaerys was doing. Despite her youth, however, Queen Alysanne charmed all her ladies-in-waiting, who soon became completely loyal to her.[4]

On the twentieth day of the ninth month of 50 AC, Jaehaerys came of age.[4] He flew his dragon to King's Landing to claim the throne soon thereafter, while Alysanne remained on Dragonstone. She followed him nigh on half a year later, flying from Dragonstone to the Red Keep on Silverwing. A month later, Alysanne and Jaehaerys married in a small, public ceremony; this time the ceremony was followed by a consummation.[15]

First royal progress

In 51 AC, a pregnant Alysanne accompanied Jaehaerys on his first royal progress, touring the crownlands. At Duskendale Alysanne held the first of her famous women's courts, where she heard women of all ages and births bring her their fears, hopes and consternations. These courts would be held every time the queen visited a castle, town or city. The progress continued to the riverlands, where Alysanne and Jaehaerys eventually arrived at Maidenpool. There, the pregnant Alysanne wished to bathe in Jonquil's Pool. Although Jaehaerys's Doctrine of Exceptionalism had won over most of the pious in the realm, but not all. Some of the women who tended Jonquil's Pool believed that the pool's sacred waters would become polluted if the queen, pregnant with the king's "abomination", were to enter the waters. While she was inside, Alysanne was attacked by three of these women with daggers. As only women were allowed in the bathhouse, Alysanne was accompanied only by her maids and septas, who did not hesitate to protect Alysanne by stepping between Alysanne and her would be assassins. Their shouts alarmed the two Kingsguard knights who stood outside, who burst in and slew two of the attackers, sparing the third for questioning. Under questioning, the remaining would-be assassin revealed the names of half a dozen more in the order who had helped plan the assault. Lord Mooton hanged the guilty women of the order, and planned to hang the innocent ones as well; Alysanne convinced him otherwise.[16]

Alysanne returned to King's Landing, where she remained until she went into early labor in 52 AC, giving birth to a son, who died three days after being born. Alysanne blamed the early birth and subsequent death of her child on the women who had attacked her at Jonquil's Pool at Maidenpool, believing that if she had she been allowed to bathe in the pool and its healing waters, her babe would have lived. Alysanne insisted that she needed a female protector, who could accompany her in places where men were not allowed to go. As such, Jaehaerys sent a raven to Duskendale to summon Jonquil Darke, who was subsequently appointed as Alysanne's sworn shield.[16]

That same year, after several of close friends of Rhaena Targaryen were poisoned on Dragonstone by Rhaena's husband Androw Farman, Alysanne traveled to the island in an attempt to comfort her sister. Instead, Rhaena attempted to send her away on three occasions. When Alysanne refused to leave, Rhaena retreated to her chambers, while Alysanne met with her niece, Aerea, who begged Alysanne to take her back to King's Landing with her. Alysanne brought Aerea's request to Rhaena, who refused coldly, stating that Rhaena had nothing and Alysanne had everything, but would not have Rhaena's daughter too, concluding that "you have my throne, content yourself with that". Alysanne left soon after.[16]

After Aerea had escaped Dragonstone atop of Balerion, Alysanne prayed daily for her, blaming herself, but mostly Rhaena, for Aerea's flight. In 55 AC, Alysanne, together with Septon Barth, Grand Maester Benifer, and Lord Albin Massey, began to aid Jaehaerys with codifying, organizing, and reforming all the kingdom's laws. The project would take decades. That same year, Alysanne traveled to Dragonstone where she gave birth to Aemon. Alysanne was displeased when Jaehaerys began to refer to Aemon as his heir, as she believed their daughter Daenerys should be the first in line for the throne, as she was the eldest of the two. Although Jaehaerys would always reply that Daenerys would be queen when she wed Aemon, the answer never truly pleased Alysanne.[3]

In 56 AC, Balerion suddenly appeared at King's Landing with the severely ill Princess Aerea on his back. As Grand Maester Benifer and Septon Barth attempted to save her, Alysanne and Jaehaerys stood vigil outside the chamber.[3] The next year, Alysanne supported Septon Barth's plan of constructing sinking wells, pipes, tunnels, and cisterns, to provide King's Landing with fresh, clean water. Barth pointed out to Jaehaerys that the defouled river water was the only source of water for the smallfolk, suggesting his plans would provide the smallfolk with clean drinking water instead. When the king and his master of coin, Rego Draz, balked at the costs, Alysanne served them a tankard of river water and challenged them to drink it. Instead of drinking the water, the king and his master of coin approved the construction of the fountains, which would become known as "the queen's fountains".[3][8] That same year, Alysanne gave birth to another son, Baelon, just before spring broke.[3]

Progress to the North

In 58 AC, King Jaehaerys I Targaryen planned to visit the north on a royal progress together with Alysanne, intent on visiting Winterfell. However, when Jaehaerys was detained at King's Landing, Alysanne suggested she could go on the progress as planned to prevent Lord Alaric Stark from taking offense, with Jaehaerys catching up with her as soon as possible. As such, Alysanne traveled upon the back of Silverwing to White Harbor, with the royal retinue later joining her by ship. At White Harbor, Alysanne was hosted by Lord Theomore Manderly. She held the a women's court at Lord Manderly's hall, where two hundred women laid their grievances before her. A tourney was held in her honor, and Alysanne's sworn sword Jonquil Darke sparred with a wildling woman during the event, much to the approval of the northmen. Next, Alysanne traveled to Winterfell, where she was coldly received by Lord Alaric Stark. However, due to the queens charm and wit he warmed to her during the queen's stay, while Alysanne in turn grew close to Alaric's daughter, Alarra Stark. Next, restless of waiting for Jaehaerys at Winterfell, according to Archmaester Gyldayn, Alysanne traveled to Castle Black at the Wall.[3]

According to Archmaester Gyldayn, Alysanne grew restless of waiting for Jaehaerys at Winterfell and decided to travel to Castle Black at the Wall.[3]Bran Stark however, claims that Alysanne grew bored only after Jaehaerys had arrived at the north, and flew to the Wall while Jaehaerys discussed matters with his Warden of the North.[17] According to Bran Stark and his bastard brother Jon Snow, Alysanne stayed in several local villages while flying north. One of such establishments, Queenscrown, changed its name following Alysanne's visit in her honor, and painted the merlons atop the holdfast golden to look like the golden crown she had worn during her visit.[17][18]

During her time with the Night's Watch, Alysanne saw groups of wildlings, when the Lord Commander presented her with his captives. She insisted on visiting other castles alongside the Wall as well. In addition, she attempted to fly Silverwing north beyond the Wall on three occasions. The dragon's refusal to go was troubling to Alysanne.[3]

Alysanne suggested to the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch that the Nightfort, the oldest and largest castle at the Wall, which was too costly to maintain, be replaced with a smaller castle nearby. She used her own jewels (including her own crown) to finance the construction of the castle, which was named Deep Lake.[3] King Jaehaerys later sent men north to build the castle.[19] A statue of Alysanne was constructed in front of the castle. Furthermore, Alysanne pressured Lord Commander Burley to escort her to Mole's Town, where she held one of her women's court amongst the whores who lived there.[3]

Alysanne so admired the Night's Watch's bravery that she convinced Jaehaerys to double the amount of land held by the black brothers[17] after having reunited with him at Winterfell. Lord Alaric was not pleased by the notion of having to force his bannermen to give up parts of their lands, but Alysanne charmed him into doing so either way.[3] According to Maester Yandel, however, this granting of the New Gift was not taken well by all the Starks,[N 1] and MaesterYandel believes that this might have influenced Lord Ellard Stark's choice of support during the Great Council of 101 AC.[20] The Night's Watch, on the other hand, was grateful. To thank Alysanne for financing Deep Lake and winning them the New Gift, the Night's Watch renamed the castle Snowgate, dubbing it Queensgate in her honor.[8][21][18]

Other children followed during the next few years. In 62 AC, Alysanne gave birth to a daughter, named Maegelle. The next year, a son, Vaegon, followed, and in 64 AC another daughter, Daella. Two more daughters followed a few years later: Saera in 67 AC and Viserra in 71 AC. In 73 AC, Alysanne and Jaehaerys announced that their ten year-old daughter Maegelle would join the Faith of the Seven. That same year, Alysanne gave birth to another son, Gaemon. However, Gaemon was born early, and the labor was so long and difficult that the maesters feared for Alysanne's life. Although Alysanne recovered from the birth, Gaemon died within three months of his birth, in the early days of 74 AC. Three years later, Alysanne gave birth to her twelfth child, a son who she named Valerion. This labor was difficult as well, and as a result Alysanne was bedridden for half a year. Valerion himself was small and sickly, like Gaemon had been, and died the next year, a fortnight before his first nameday. Alysanne took his death with resignation and declared she was more suited to be a grandmother now, than a mother. Regardless, in 80 AC, during winter, Alysanne gave birth to her thirteenth and final child: Gael. Though small and frail at birth as well, Gael lived, to Alysanne's relieve and joy.[5]

First and Second Quarrel

In 80 AC, following threats made by King Jaehaerys I, Alysanne finally succeeded, after several failed attempts, in arranging a marriage for her daughter Daella, who was wed to Lord Rodrik Arryn in early 81 AC. After a year and a half of marriage, Daella wrote to Alysanne to inform her of her pregnancy, telling her mother that she was frightened and asking her to come. Alysanne flew to the Vale, arriving three months before Daella was due. Alysanne remained with Daella until she gave birth. Daella went into labor a fortnight too early, and had a long and troubled labor. Although her daughter, Aemma Arryn, was healthy, Daella soon fell ill and died. According to Archmaester Gyldayn, Daella’s death was the first hint of the rift that was to open between Alysanne and Jaehaerys, as Alysanne believed Daella had been pushed into marriage at too early an age, and blamed Jaehaerys for insisting their daughter was wed this young. Alysanne's older daughter Alyssa died in childbirth two years later.[5]

In 84 AC, Alysanne and Jaehaerys learned that their daughter Saera had bedded three young knights. When Saera told her parents that she could wed all three of them, comparing herself to King Maegor the Cruel and his many wives, Jaehaerys had her confined to her bedchamber. Furious and ashamed, Jaehaerys was said to have stated more than once that "she is no longer my daughter". Alysanne agreed that Saera had to be punished for her actions, but argued for Jaehaerys to allow for her to redeem herself as well with soothing words. That night, however, Saera escaped the castle and fled to the Dragonpit, intent on stealing a dragon. As punishement, Saera was sent to Oldtown to serve the Faith of the Seven as a novice with the silent sisters. Saera escaped to Lys the next year, where she became a prostitute working in a pleasure garden. Alysanne despaired when she heard the news and proclaimed that the Lyseni had turned their daughter into a whore, Jaehaerys replied: "She always was", which further devasted Alysanne.[5]

In 87 AC, Alysanne arranged the betrothal of her daughter Viserra to Lord Theomore Manderly. The night before she was to take ship, however, Viserra died in a drunken race through the city. In pain over the deaths of three daughters (Daella, Alyssa, and Viserra) in five years time, Alysanne begged Jaehaerys to bring Saera home, saying that she needed her daughter. Jaehaerys refused, however, and warned her against flying to Lys to retrieve Saera herself. Jaehaerys instead told her that "[Saera] is dead. bury her". This led to the couples first big rift, which would last for two years, during which time Alysanne resided on Dragonstone while Jaehaerys traveled the realm. They were finally reconciled after their daughter Maegelle persuaded King Jaehaerys to reconcile with her. A fortnight later, both Jaehaerys and Alysanne finally returned to King's Landing.[5]

In 92 AC, Prince Aemon, Alysanne's eldest son and the Prince of Dragonstone, was killed by a Myrish pirate on Tarth. When King Jaehaerys named Aemon's brother Baelon as the new Prince of Dragonstone and heir to the throne instead of Aemon's only child, Princess Rhaenys, there were some who voiced their objections. Alysanne, angered about the fact that Rhaenys was passed over on account of her sex, was the most prominent amongst them. The disagreement over Jaehaerys's decision led to the Second Quarrel, which began when Alysanne left for Dragonstone after telling Jaehaerys that, if he indeed believed women lacked the wit to rule, he had no need of her. Although they were reconciled again two years later, once more by their daughter Maegelle, they never agreed on the matter of the succession.[8][23]

Final Years

Alysanne in her final days on Dragonstone reminiscing about her happy youth on the island, as depicted by Douglas Wheatley in Fire & Blood.

As she aged, the joys in Alysanne's life were slowly taken from her. In 93 AC, she flew Silverwing for the final time. Two years later, Alysanne slipped and broke her hip, and had to use a cane to walk thereafter. Her hearing began to fail, leaving her unable to enjoy music anymore, nor participate in discussions of the king's small council. Alysanne's youngest and most favored daughter, Gael, committed suicide in 99 AC. Gael's death broke Alysanne, for she had outlived all but three of her children (Baelon, Vaegon and Saera). No longer able to bear living at King's Landing and the Red Keep, Alysanne returned to Dragonstone, where she died on the first day of the seventh month the following year. She was cremated, and her ashes were interred beneath the Red Keep.[8][3]

Jaehaerys outlived Alysanne by a few years. She had been his great love, and it was said that the grief caused by their parting hung over his court,[8] reducing him to a shell of the man he had once been.[24]

Recent Events

A Storm of Swords

Jon Snow recalls a tale told to him by Old Nan, Jaehaerys and Alysanne traveled to Winterfell together in a great royal progress that contained six dragons.[18] It is unknown if this was a later progress made by the royal couple or just a fable told by Old Nan.

According to Bran Stark and his bastard brother Jon Snow, Alysanne stayed in several local villages while flying north. One of such establishments, Queenscrown, changed its name following Alysanne's visit in her honor, and painted the merlons atop the holdfast golden to look like the golden crown she had worn during her visit.[17][18]

Behind the Scenes

In one of the earlier drafts of the Targaryen family tree, dating circa 1998, Alysanne was displayed as the daughter of King Maegor I Targaryen. Not much later, however, George R. R. Martin changed the family tree and Alysanne became the daughter of King Aenys I Targaryen, Maegor's older brother, instead.[27] As a result of this change, Alysanne's husband, Jaehaerys I Targaryen, became her brother instead of her cousin.

Notes

↑Earlier prints of The World of Ice & Fire, published in 2014, state that Lord Ellard Stark was the lord who had been forced to give up the New Gift. However, it has been confirmed that this is an error, and that the statement has been replaced by "the Starks were glad" in later prints, leaving it unknown for the time being which Stark had been the lord in question. In addition, Fire & Blood, published in 2018, state that the Lord of Winterfell at the time was Lord Alaric Stark, who had no living brothers at the time the New Gift was granted. It has been confirmed that George R. R. Martin wished for the granting of the New Gift to have been a point of contention that some scholars believe informed Ellard Stark's choice to back Laenor Velaryon in the Great Council, several centuries later﻿﻿, leaving it unknown which Stark, from which time, objected to the granting of the New Gift.